melin



April 26, 1927.

s. c. m-zuu BALLAST DIGGING AND CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 9,..1926

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G. C. MELIN BALLAST'DIGGING AND CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 J72 V67? 2 02 62357396 C Maid/2' Q CV 92 Hm aifoiwgym Patented Apr. 25, 1%157.

UNlTEl) STATES GEORGE G. MELIN. OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

BALLAST DIGGING AND CLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed July 9, 1926.

lily invention relates to an improved machine tor rehallastim: railroad tracks. i /lore particularly it relates to a machine capable of raising the tracks and ties, removing a portion of the ballast, sn'eening the ballast and replacing the screened material on the roadbed.

The operations which my machine is capahle of pertorn'iing have in the past usually been performed by hand. which are slow, laborious and expensive processes. The process of reballastine' is necessary in order to extend the lite ot. the ties. to realign the track. increase the bearing area on the suhgrade. to provide elasticity to the track. to improve drainage of. the roadbed and to minimize heaving.

I am aware that several machines embodyin various principles oi operation have been suggested in the past. but all of these have proved impractical in one respect or another due to a tailure to comprehend some of the basic requirements ot this type o'l. machine.

It is an object ot my invention to provide n improved machine for rcballastine' roade-ds which is effective and speedy in operaion.

A turther object is to provide an improved means tor raising the rails and ties so that the ballast may be readily dug out From beneath them.

A. t'urther object is to provide an improved means tor adjusting); the tie raising devices so that the machine may he etticientlv and ettectivelv used n rehallastingcurved tracks.

A further object is to provide improved means for removing the track raising means from operative position to a position in which thev will not interfere with the transportation 0t the machine from one job to another.

A further object is to provide an improved conveyor mechanism for rais ng the ballast from the roadloed to a screening device.

A further object is to provide an improved machine which will operate efficiently and speedily to remove the ballast from beneath the tracks. raise it to a screening device where the ballast may be. cleaned. and return the cleaned ballast to the roadbed.

Other objects will appear from the -tollowir description. re't'erence being had to the a "empanyingr drawings in which:

Figure l a side elevation of the com- Serial No. 121,304.

plete machine shown more or less diagrammatically as mounted on a flat car.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation 01" a portion ot the machine taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the rear portion of the machine taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the machine taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure (3 is a similar sectional View taken on the line (3-43 of l igure Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 3. showing particularly the means tor digging the ballast from beneath the track.

Figure 8 a plan view of the means by which the digger mechanism is elevated, taken on the line S-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the chain and housing used to carry the digging teeth.

Figure 1.0 is a transverse vertical sectional view ol' the chain and housing taken on the line 1t)10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing somewhat diagranmiatically the track raising jacks and their operating means, the view being taken on the plane represented by the line ill--11 in Figure 1.

l i e'ure 1:2 is a detailed view of the digging iii-cans. shown partly in section.

Figure 13 is an elevation 01 one of the digger teeth and its mounting, taken on the plane represented by the line 13--l3 in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a similar view taken on the line let-A41 of Figure '12 and Figure 15 is a third view of one of the digger teeth as seen from the line 15-15 in F igure 14.

A brief general description of the functions and purposes of the machine of my invention will be given so that the detailed description may be more readily understood.

The machine as a whole is mounted on a long llat car and comprises the following mechanism: A pair of jacks with means for operating the same are secured to the flatcar and are adapted to raise the tracks so that track raisin; shoes may be placed beneath the ties. These shoes are transversely slidable so that they may be inserted beneath the track from the side. These track raising shoes are also vertically adjustable and are in, the general form of a wedge so that the machine as it is pulled along by a locomotive will wedge the track upwardly. A digging mechanism is positioned directly behind the track raising shoes and is adapted to scrape out the old ballast and move it toward the side of the track, where suitable flight conveyors are provided to raise it to a chute by which it is guided to a rotatable screen. This screen serves to sift the dirt and debris from the ballast, the debris being conveyed to a following car or to one side of the track and the eravel and rock being replaced upon the roadbed. The digging means, as well the flight conveyors are adjustable so that they may be raised out of the way when the machine is to be transported from one place to another.

The fiat car upon which the machine is mounted and which comprises an essential part thereof, may be constructed according: to wellv recognized car lniilders practice. the only necessary difference being that it must be considerably longer than the usual flat car. thus providing; a suil'icient span to permit the track between its end trucks to be raised about 8 or 10 inches, so that the ballast directly beneath the tracks may be removed by means oi a digging mechanism. The flat car top 21 is supported by the trucks 22 and 23, which are preferably placed as near the ends of the top as is compatible with good engineeringconstruction. The wheels of the trucks, of course, travel upon the rails 24 and 25', which. as is customary. are spiked to ties 26. The top 21 is preterably made of sheet steel. and it suitably reent'orced by a box girder 27 (Figures 5 and 6) and other suitable well known bracing rods and reentorcing members (not shown).

In connnencing the operation oi the machine, the tracks mustiirst be jacked up so as to permit the insertion of the track raising shoes. The jacks 28 which are diagrammatically shown in Figure 11 are adapted to be operated by links 29 pivoted to their handles, the links 29 being also pivoted. to bell cranks 30 which are pivotally mounted on the top cit the car. The long arms ill) of the bell cranks serve as handles by which the jacks may be operated. The jacks are adapted to be raised into inoperative posi tion by means of cables 'or chains which extend upwardly through the floor of the car and are adapted to be wound up on small manually operated winding drums When the tracks have been raised a sutlicient distance to permit their insertion, a pair of track raising shoes 3% and. are swung downwardly beneath the ties, as will presently be described.

The shoes 34E, are preferably made of a heavy plate steel and are best shown in Fig ure 5 and. 7. The shoes are adapted to be holed te ier by means of the con nectiug bars 36 and 37, which are suitably reeni'orced andv bolted to the shoes 3% and 35 respectively. The shoes have longitudinal. ridges 3st and 35 which extend beyond the front edges of the shoes ilf'orming; wedge shaped toes whic i slide beneath the ties and support them at points a short distance inside the rails.

The outer edges oi the shoes are curved upwardly and riveted to downwardly proarms 38 andv 39. which arms are integral with. or secured to horizontal bars 12 and 41-3 I'GHPLHJllYQljJ. These bars lie along side one another, and are guided for sliding lomgitudinal nioven'ient by vertical rollers it) and supported for sliding movement on the horizontal rollers ll)". Racks 42 and lil lixed to the upper edges of these bars. are adapted to mesh with pinions lat and respectively. These pinions are secured to shafts 46 and 4t? respecltively. which are suitably journaled in bearings 4-8 and 4e respectively which are secured to a sliding tran'ie 50 of the machine. These shafts lli and 457. as shown in llinure 5: e tend rearwardly and serve other purpose will later be de scribed. Each ot thes shafts has a socketed disc (Figure secured thereto by which the shaft may be rotated. the sockets being adapted to receive a suitable handle su -h as a pinch bar or similar rod. It will be apparent from this construction that the shoes i-ll; and 35 may be moved inwardly and out wardly by the rotation oil the shaits to and M, to place them beneath the ties. and to remove them from this position when the machine is not in operation.

The shoes are also arranged to be raised and lowered. For tais purpose. a pair of lnfackcts 54: and 55 (FlQlllQ h) are mounted on the floor of the llat car. hitatal'ily secured in these brackets are two pairs of screws .36 and 537 which thread into snitable nuts lifted relative to the :iraiue St) in which the bars and 4 3 are guided. so that upon rotation of these screws the frame 50 and the bars 42 and ii-3. together with the shoes; il-.. 35 may be raised and lowered. Fixed relative to these screws fill and 57 are gears The pair of screws 56 are on the left hand side of the machine and the pair oi screws 57 are on the right hand side 01 the n'iacliine (vice versa Fig. The gears secured to the screws fill are inter-(rimnccted by a pinion 59 which is suitably mounted on stub shaft (30 hearing in the bracket A similar pinion is provided to connect the gears 58 ot lhe screws 57. The driv ng shaft 61 by n'ieans of which these screws are rotated is mounted in a pair of bearing brackets and 62. which are bolted to the l'iraokets 5 land 55 respectively. This shai't (31 carries a pair of bevel gears Inn 63 which mesh with the complementary bevel pinions (54: which are keyed to the stub shatts ($0 and which, through the pinions 59, transmit the motion to the gears 58. A sprocket (35 is fixed to the central portion ot the shaft tit and is driven by a chain (36 which may e either manually actuated or may be operated by any suitable power means.

A. pair of counterweights cc are supported by suitable cables (57 which pass over sheaves (it; and are secured to the bars 42 and 43 respectively, so as to facilitate the raising and lowering of the shoes. The sheaves (38 may be carried by shafts tit) supported in suitable bearings T1. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2. the shoes are held in position by a pair of truss rods 72 (Figures 1 and T) which at one end are secured to the forward end of the car frame and at the other end are removably secured to the shoes 3-t and 35 respectively. lVhen the shoes are to be raised from their operative position these truss rods are disconnected from the shoes and are secured to supports T3 (Figure 5) which are carried by the vertically slidahle frame 50 in which the bars l) and t?) are supported. These supports '72) are slidably ail justable and may be secured in adjusted position by a pin 74.

Means for scraping and digging out the old ballast are provided. These means consist of a chain digger device which is mounted so that it may be placed beneath the ties and rails and be operated so as to carry the old ballast to the side ot' the track, where it is received by suitable elevating conveyors. as will hereinafter be described. This digging and scraping mechanism com prises a pair of frames 75 (Figure 7) which may be inserted beneath the tics. Each 0t these "i'rai'nes forms a housing and guide tor a chain 76 (Figure 12). which is carried and driven by suitable sprockets 77. which are rotatably mounted .in the ends of the frames 75. The roller chain 76 carries a pair of links 76 which have flanges to which the digger teeth may be suitably secured.

As best shown in Figures 12 to 15 inclusive. the digger teeth 78 are secured to blocks 79 by means of set screws 81. 'lhese digger teeth may he made of hardened manganese steel or other suitable material and are removably secured in the blocks so that they may be easily replaced it necessary. The blocks 79 in which the digger teeth 78 are secured are bolted to a trame member 82. which is pivotally mounted at the ends of a suitable link 83 which is bolted to the flanges ot' the chain links 76. The frame member 82 carries a pair of rollers 84 which roll on the peripheral edge surtace of the frame 75 which is suitably longitudinally slotted at '75 to permit the passage of the connecting links 83. As shown in Fig ure 12, this edge surface which forms a track for the rollers is cut away near the rear end of the frame as at 85. As the rollers 8% of the digger teeth :t'rames reach this cut a ay portion 87 the digger teeth tilt backward on their pivotal connecting links 83, and when the rollers reach the end of the cut away portion 85, they again engage the guide portion of the trame 75 and are given a sudden kick 'tmiwardly about their pivotal connection wit-h the links 83 so as to free them from any dirt which may have had a tendency to stick to the tooth and to throw the ballast toward the receiving plate of the flight conveyor. The blocks 79 are secured to the 'tranle member 82 by a bolt 86. This bolt is of small enough diameter so that should the tooth contact with some obstruction. such as an unusually large rock, this bolt will break before any of the other parts will give way, so that great injury to the mechanism is thus prevented.

From Figures iii. 14 and 15, it will be particularly noted that the digger tooth 78 extends at an angle dowmvardly. outwardly and 'l orwardly with respect to its direction of motion. by thus positioning this tooth. a maximum digging eti'ect is secured, and the tirmly settled ballast lying directly beneath the ties is readily dug out and removed. The leading surtac'e T5) of the block 79 terms a scraping element by which the gravel and dirt which has been loosened by the digger teeth. is carried rearwardly to the flight conveyor, the operation of which will be hercina'tter described.

A plow-like device 88 (Figure 7) is bolted to the shoes and also to the itrame members 75 by a suitable structural steel construction and serves to scrape the central portion o"! the roadbed beneath the center of the ties and scrape the gravel into the path ol the digging teeth. 'lhis plow-like device is removed when the shoes 34 and 35 are witln drawn -l'rom beneath the track. As best shown in Figure I) and ltigure (3, the digger sprocket T? is driven by a shat't 91 which is rotatably secured in l .arings which are mounted on a frame 9;}. which may be raised by means similar to those employed in raising the shoes. The upper end of the shatt: 91, carries a bevel gear 94 which meshes with a similar pinion 95 which is keyed to a shaft on. The shat't 96 is rotatable in the hearing bracket 97. and has a sprocket 98 tixed thereto. which sprocket may be integral with the bevel gear 95. The bracket 97 has a bridged portion 99 integral with its bearing caps tor a purpose which will later be described. It is to be understood that the mechanism for digging which has been described constitutes only oue-hal't ot the digging mechanism oi the machine. and that a. similar complementary mechanism is provided tor the right hand side of the ma chine. The sprockets 98 are driven by chains 101 (see Figure 3) which in turn are driven by sprockets 102 splined to a shaft 103. The shaft 103 is rotatable in bearings 10 1 carried by a trame 105 which is fixed to the sliding tramc 93 and to the channel 100 which connects the shoes with the digger mechanism. The shaft 103 is driven by a chain 107 which engages a sprocket 1.08 carried by a shatt .109 which is rotatably mounted in a l'iearing bracket 1110 supported by the main frame of the raising and lowering: device. This shaft 109 carries a second sprocket (not shown) which is connected by a chain 112 to any suitable source of power. such as the engine 113.

The means for raising and lowering the frame is in every respect similar to that employed in raising and lowering the shoes and it is believed that it is therefore unnecessary to describe this mechanism in detail. The device operated by means of the same chain 66 which is used to control the shoe raisins niechanisni. and it will therefore be apparent that the digr er mechanism and the shoes will be rai. concurrently. In Figure 8, a plan. view oi this mechanism is shown, similar retcrencc characters having been employed to designate the parts which are similar to those described with reference to the shoe raisins, and lowering: mechanisn'i.

As has been shown. the digging mechanism will remove the ballast troin beneath the ties and carry it outwardly to the edge of the track. Means for raising the ballast will now be descrilr ed. This means consists of a flight conveyor which con'iprises a frame designated generally as 121. (Figures 3 and t). Suitable sprockets and 12?) are rotatably mounted in this and carry the chain 124, to which the blades are secured. The trame 121 includes a bottom plate 126 which is adapted to scrape up the loosened dirt and gravel. The sprockets 122 and 123, as shown in l ia'ures P) and l. rotate counter-clockwise so that the blades pe up the ballast upon the plate 125 will scra 126 and car y it lllQXYfllTll) along the trounl'i which formed along: the inclined bottom of the tran'ie 121. A side apron 12? tormed ot a plurality 01 plates. is pivotally secured to the side ot the frame .121 and held in. adjusted position by means of a bar 128, which is slidable relative to the trame 121., and which may be 5. l in adjusted position by mean oi? a weugro 129 or in any other suitable sccuixngr means. This side apron may be pivoted so as to lie close to the side 01 the frame 121 when the machine is being: moved from job to job. The elevating: or 'l'light conveyor is driven by a chain 131 which engages a suitable sprocket on the shaft of the engine or motor 113 and also a suitable sprocket secured to the shaft 132 to weasel which the sprocket 123 is splined. The flight conveyor may be raised from operative position by means of a cable 1 3i which may be secured to the frame 121. and be wound upon a winding drum 3 This winding drum is secured in the end of a shaft 135 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings and carries a worm wheel 13% (Figure which is rotatable by means oft a worm 137. This worm is operable by means of a handle 138 secured to its shaft. \Vhen elevating the irame 121. it may pivot around the shaft 132 and upon reaching. a sutlici'ent height, may be moved toward the center of the car so that the plate 126 will rest upon the horizontal portion 09 of the bearing 97 previously described. The sprocket 123, as has been said, is splined to the shaft 132, so that the conveyor frame as a whole may be readily moved inwardly. The flight eonveyor discharges into a hopper 1&1. which or pties into a rotary screen 14-2. This rotary screen is carried by a shaft H53 which is suitably journaled in bearings 1-i-land 145. and is driven through beveled gears 14:6 and M7. The beveled gear 1&6 is secured to a shaft 1 18 which is driven by a chain connection from the shait 13;. The gravel and dirt dumped into the hopper 1&1v is screened. the cleaned gravel discharging from the end of the screen into the hopper 14:9. which leads to a spout 151. The spout 151 is adjustable, so that the screened gravel may be directed to any desired portion of the road bed. The dirt falling; through a screen L22 is conveyed upwardly by means of a suitable conveyor belt 152 which may be driven by chain from the shaft 132. and which will discharge the dirt into the elevatingcon veyor mechanism 153. This elevating con veyor may be driven by a chain or belt 154 from the shaft 132. The dirt from this elevating conveyor passes downwardly through a chute 155 and deposits upon the conveyor belt which is carried on rollers 15'? mounted in a jointed frame 158. This conveyor belt 156 may extend rearwardly sulficient to deposit the dirt and debris into a gondola car which may follow the flat car upon which my machine is mounted. or if desired. the conveyor may be so constructed so as to convey the dirt to the side 01!? the road bed.

I claim 1. In a machine of the class described. the combination oil a fiat car. a pair of shoes adapted to be inserted beneath the ties of the track, wedge-shaped ridges on said shoes adapted to engage the lower surface of the ties and raise them, means for shifting said shoes outwardly "from said. car, and means for raising; said shoes above the level of the track.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a Hat car, a pair of shoes adapted to be positioned beneath the ties of the track, said shoes being adapted upon forward movement of said car to arise the track, a pair of power actuated digging mechanisms, said mechanisms on one side of said machine being secured to the shoe on that side, means for concurrently shitting said shoe and associated mechanism outwardly, and means tor raising both said shoes and both of said mechanisms simultaneously.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a [lat car, a pair ot track raising shoes adapted to be positioned beneath the track, a wedge-shaped plow secured to said shoes, a pair of power actuated digging mechanisms secured behind said plow, means to secure said shoes, plow and said mechanisms in position beneath. the track, means for moving said parts outwardly from beneath said track and means tor elevating said shoes, digging mechanisms and plow above the level of said track.

4t. In a machine of the class described, the combination of track raising means and digging mechanisms for moving the dirt and ballast from beneath the tracks, said dig ging mechanisms comprising a pair of adjustably positioned frames, a sprocket. rotatably mounted in each end of said frame, a chain carried by said sprocket, a plurality of links secured to said chain and extending through a slotin said frame, a tooth block pivotally secured to each of said links, and a tooth inserted in each of said blocks, said tooth projecting outwardly, downwardly and forwardly with reference to its direction ot motion. g

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a flat ear, means for raising the track upon which said car is adapted to travel, a pair of digging mechanisms adapted to be inserted beneath the ties of said track, said digging mechanisms each con1- prising a frame, a sprocket rotatably mounted in each end of said frame, an endless chain carried by said sprockets, a housing C- shaped in cross section extending the length of said chain, a plurality of links secured to said chain and extending outwardly from said housing through a longitudinal slot therein, adigging tooth supported by a block pivotally connected to each of said links a pair oi rollers carried by each of said blocks, and means on said frame adapted to be engaged by said rollers so as to cause said blocks to be given an accelerated motion near the end of the digging portion of their cycle.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a flat car, track raising means adjustably secured to said car and adapted to progressively raise the track as said car is propelled along the track, means for moving said track raising means from operative position and means for raising said track raising means above the level of the rails of the track. T. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a flat car, track raising means adj ustably secured thereto, means tor moving ballast from beneath the track to the side of the track, and means for elevating the ballast deposited at the sides of said track by said digging mechanism comprising a pair of ele ating conveyors.

S. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a railroad tlat car, a pair of wedge shaped shoes adapted to be positioned beneath the tics of the track upon which the car is adapted to rest, means tor adjusting the position of said shoes relative to said car, and means including counterweights for raising said shoes to a position above the track.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of J une, 1926.

GEO. C. MELIN. 

